Reviews

• 

  ★★★½ review by metalmeatwad on Letterboxd

  You are the Guardian of Soles, you are The Cobbler.

  Inside a shoe repair shop within Lower Eastside Manhattan lies the World's 2nd Hasidic Superhero! Oy vey! I liked this.

  The Cobbler, otherwise known as Bei Mir Bistu Shein (To Me You're Beautiful, is a contemporary Yiddish Fairy Tale that's both a testament to Jewish independent film and old school Adam Sandler fans alike. If The Cobbler was made on a larger-scale budget, I think this somewhat flawed film could have been more successful, but what we got overall was both a fun and irrefutable Sandler-esque experiment from Director Thomas McCarthy. The Cobbler really feels like a bit of a callback to the more successful Sandler comedies. This feels like a very personal film for the brilliant Director, and it shows. You get the sense McCarthy is someone who's clearly both a fan of the Sand-Man and a true MACHER, who made this looking to get more in touch with his Jewish faith. I honestly feel like this film was sparked from a conversation with McCarthy's Rabbi over their love of old school Adam Sandler Cinema, and crafted together an original Yiddish Fairy Tale Comedy.

  This is a very Jewish contemporary fairy tale and homage to Sandler cinema, full of life lessons and religious themes (sometimes, a little too in your face). Despite the experiment being flawed, Sandler is in top form. He delivers a rich and nuanced performance as social outcast and shoe repairman Max Simkin. I cannot forget to mention the Yiddish-inspired score by John Debney accompanying the film is a mitzvah on its own.

  Not every scene in The Cobbler works. I admit this experiment/side-project is a bit of mess, and was clearly faced with limitations out of McCarthy's control, but I can see a lot of labor and love put into it. It's an indie-flick unable to fully transition to a mainstream movie. The film's life lessons and heart are in the right place, and delivers just enough, laughs unpredictability, heart, and fun from being a total flop.

  No regrets Thomas McCarthy, no regrets. [B]

• 

  ★★★½ review by Kiko Vega on Letterboxd

  Thomas McCarthy sigue contando historias de gente triste, sólo que ahora aporta unas inesperadas y atractivas pinceladas de cine superheróico, con Darkman como principal referente, en un popurrí que se presume indigesto hasta que decide tirar por el lado más loco imaginable.
  
  Vas a leer una sartenada de SANDLECES de aquí en adelante, la mayoría escritas/dichas por personas que habrán visto cinco pelis del actor, pero confía en mi: The Cobbler es extraña, sencilla y jodidamente mágica.

• 

  ★★★★ review by Jessica on Letterboxd

  Amazing 👍

• 

  ★★★★ review by Gene Gosewehr on Letterboxd

  A nice, well paced film using magical realism based entirely on the phrase, "you don't know a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes."

  Method Man surprised a bit with his versatility and Sandler was satisfactory. I wouldn't call it great but it's pretty good.

• 

  ★★★★★ review by Clinton Hallahan on Letterboxd

  A masterpiece of terrible film. Has an ending so insane it has to be seen to be believed.

• See all reviews